Grassroots volunteers honor wounded vets

USMC Cpl. Travis Greene helped volunteers landscape his new home by carrying a roll of sod on his wheelchair. Hundreds of volunteers from around the county guided by professional landscaper and television host Ahmed Hassan descended on two new homes provided by Home For Our Troops, a non-profit organization that provides housing for severely injured veterans.
— David Brooks

USMC Cpl. Travis Greene helped volunteers landscape his new home by carrying a roll of sod on his wheelchair. Hundreds of volunteers from around the county guided by professional landscaper and television host Ahmed Hassan descended on two new homes provided by Home For Our Troops, a non-profit organization that provides housing for severely injured veterans.
— David Brooks

RANCHO SAN DIEGO  Marine Cpl. Travis Greene watched from his wheelchair Saturday as volunteers planted a tree in the backyard of what soon will be his Rancho San Diego home.

About 200 volunteers armed with shovels, wheelbarrows and big hearts braved a warm East County morning to landscape new homes for Greene and another fellow severely wounded veteran.

“It’s just awesome that all these people are out here doing this,” said Greene, 32.

“A simple ‘thank you’ would be enough,” said Army Sgt. Odin Ayala, 28, whose new home will share the same cul-de-sac as Greene’s.

Both men lost their legs and sustained other injuries from improvised explosive devices. Greene was injured while deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Ayala was injured in Afghanistan in 2011.

The veterans are getting new homes customized for wheelchair use through the program Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit that started in 2004. Doreen Lewis, supervisor of community outreach director for the Massachusetts-based group, said the group has built 138 homes for veterans in 36 states.

During the first couple weeks in December, the nonprofit will give 14 veterans keys to their new homes, beginning with the Rancho San Diego houses. The nonprofit also has built houses in Temecula and Fallbrook.

Ahmed Hassan, host of DIY Network’s “Yard Crashers,” added star power to the day serving as emcee of the event, which was being filmed for Volvo Rents.

“We can’t have these veterans moving into homes with no landscaping,” he said, energizing the volunteers before they began about three hours of work.

Professional landscaper and television host Ahmed Hassan plants a bush in U.S. Army Sgt. Odin Ayala's yard as part of a larger effort with the Home for Our Troops program that provides severely injured veterans with suitable housing.
— David Brooks

Professional landscaper and television host Ahmed Hassan plants a bush in U.S. Army Sgt. Odin Ayala's yard as part of a larger effort with the Home for Our Troops program that provides severely injured veterans with suitable housing.
— David Brooks

Volvo Rents, Sherwin-Williams paint, CentaPro Painters and Hunter Irrigation were among the sponsors of the project, while Fallbrook-based Youngren Construction built the homes.

Village Nurseries donated 250 plants for the project.

Landscaper Mike Knox oversaw the crew who set 250 plants, 15,000 square feet of sod and 80 yards of mulch around the two almost-complete homes.

County Deputy Fire Marshall James Pine and county Deputy Director of Planning and Development Services Clay Westling were among the volunteers.

“They came through with their buildings plans and we recognized it as a worthwhile cause,” Westling said, explaining how he learned about the project.

Rick Penkert came from Gilbert, Ariz., to be a part of the volunteer crew.

“It’s just a great cause,” he said, sweat pouring off his face as he patted down earth around a tree he had just planted. “You can’t do enough for these guys.”

“This is just an excellent opportunity to show the guys who are really fighting the battles how much we appreciate them,” said Navy Reservist Cmdr. Bob Surovchak of Carlsbad.

Ayala admitted to feeling a little humbled by the attention.

“I’m the guy who’s used to helping people out,” the Calexico native said. “This is not something you get used to right off the bat.”

Ayala was leading of team of three soldiers on a mission to drop off equipment in Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED that blew off his legs and an index finger.

Despite his injury, Ayala said he has no regrets about his service and is looking forward to his new home, where he hopes to someday raise a family.